[johnmyster]

Depending on the suspension issue, it may be a good buyback candidate.

My car has previous wreck damage in the passenger rocker area. It's not like it shows, so if you can get it back pretty close and reseal the area, you're fine.

The fender and rocker are common with a sedan, no? If you can find them used from a car in the same color, it would certainly be worth a road-trip. It sounds like you live in a high cosmetic damage environment. Nicks, dings, and swapped used parts on older cars may be a part of your life.

I put off fixing my back bumper for a year. September, someone tagged me. Free body shop repairs for my goof.

[vilord]

Originally Posted by johnmyster

Depending on the suspension issue, it may be a good buyback candidate.

Body shop is sending it for an alignment now, hopefully it can be made straight without further expense

Originally Posted by johnmyster

My car has previous wreck damage in the passenger rocker area. It's not like it shows, so if you can get it back pretty close and reseal the area, you're fine.

Yep, that's my plan!

Originally Posted by johnmyster

The fender and rocker are common with a sedan, no? If you can find them used from a car in the same color, it would certainly be worth a road-trip. It sounds like you live in a high cosmetic damage environment. Nicks, dings, and swapped used parts on older cars may be a part of your life.

I don't drive this car because it looks shiny and new, that's for sure. Commuting daily to Boston, there are a lot of opportunities for new scratches and dings from all the other "great" drivers.

Fender is definitely common with a sedan. Found a yard 20 minutes from me that has both fenders in "gray" for 125 each. Once I (hopefully) get the car aligned i'll drive it up there and see if the color matches.

[vilord]

Finally the body shop was able to get it evaluated by the alignment shop. Couldn't be aligned because the tie rods are seized.

We'll call you ASAP with an updated estimate, they say.

Another day goes by, and I think, I'll order up a couple tie rods, $100 each from bavauto.

Well, they call me back today. Say nothing has changed in the $6500 estimate, and that they don't recommend doing that much resto work to that vehicle (no shit). I say okay, I can pick it up today. They say, well, there are storage fees.

Apparently, after picking up the car on Nov 20th, they have been charging me $80 per day *even though it took their guy 2 weeks to do the initial estimate, and 1 full week to do an alignment check*

$2300, including the initial tow from my house, before I can pick it up.
After going off on the guy about how unreasonable that is, and him saying he could maybe knock off a couple days, I called my insurance, who says they will pick up the whole storage tab.

Which, TBH, I think is kinda nuts. Why should me or my insurance company pay them 80 bucks a day to sit on their asses and not actually do an estimate?

I guess this way my insurance are the ones getting screwed, and insurance companies suck regardless, but still...

[Bufalo]

Everything's damned racketeering, ain't it???

[vilord]

Bought another e91 6MT

[Ozzie335i]

Let me be the first to say congrats. Hopefully getting you back into a similar ride did not put a major dent in your wallet.

[vilord]

Been driving the new 2010 e91, but it just isn't the same. Maybe I'm sentimental? Maybe the LCI changes just aren't what I want?
Added combox for bluetooth media streaming, fixed a bunch of little issues... it goes in to the dealer for recalls on thursday or friday (vanos bolts and pcv heater). New brakes and belt tensioner go on it after that, but I think I'm still going to sell it when done.

Spent 2 hours yesterday and 3 today pulling things off the '07 that were damaged, replacing the tie rods (frozen and out of alignment), and putting it back together with a new fender.

Will bring it to my regular alignment shop on Thursday to get a second opinion about whether the rear is too out of toe... and if it is, hopefully they can tell me what I need to replace (control arm? tie rod? track bar? axle carrier? everything is cheap when picked up from a parts yard!).

Once aligned, I'll replace the front brakes, engine mount, and get started on my professional hifi -> NBT Evo w/carplay and harman kardon conversion

[Fredo]

Congrats. The e91 LCI is on my bucket list. I'll be ok with AT.